Overhead luggage compartment for an aircraft

1. An overhead luggage compartment for an aircraft, comprising:

an upper luggage compartment element, a lower luggage compartment element which is movable between an open position and a closed position, a holding device for holding the lower luggage compartment element in the closed position, a lifting spring for supporting movement of the lower luggage compartment element from the open position into the closed position, and a retaining device for fixing the lifting spring in a tensioned state in the open position of the lower luggage compartment element, wherein an operating handle is provided to release the retaining device in the open position of the lower luggage compartment element, wherein independently of a lower luggage compartment element load condition the lower luggage compartment element is movable, optionally with support by the lifting spring or with the lifting spring fixed in the tensioned state, from the open position toward the closed position.

2. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 1 , wherein the operating handle is further adapted for releasing the holding device in the closed position of the lower luggage compartment element.

3. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 2 , wherein a pivoting handle is provided as the operating handle, which is arranged on a front side of the lower luggage compartment element.

4. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 3 , wherein the pivoting handle is arranged to release, in the open position of the lower luggage compartment element, the retaining device by pivoting the pivoting handle by a first pivot angle and, in the closed position of the lower luggage compartment element, the holding device by pivoting the pivoting handle by a second pivot angle, wherein the second pivot angle is smaller than the first pivot angle.

5. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 1 , wherein the lower luggage compartment element is movable from the closed position to the open position by a first distance in a non-tensioned state of the lifting spring and by a second distance against a force of the lifting spring, the first distance of the lower luggage compartment element being smaller than the second distance of the lower luggage compartment element.

6. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 5 , wherein, when the lower luggage compartment element is in a state where it has been moved by the first distance, an opening gap of 1 to 4 cm is formed between adjacent front edges of the upper and lower luggage compartment elements.

7. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining device comprises a first and a second locking element, which can be locked with each other in the open position of the lower luggage compartment element, in the tensioned state of the lifting spring, wherein the locking of the first and second locking elements can be released by actuation of the operating handle.

8. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 1 , wherein a housing element for receiving the lifting spring and a piston element movable relative to the housing element for tensioning the lifting spring are provided for.

9. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 8 , wherein the retaining device is arranged at least partially inside the housing element.

10. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 8 , wherein a first locking element of the retaining device is connected to a piston rod of the piston element.

11. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 8 , wherein the lifting spring is arranged between a piston of the piston element and a counter bearing element, wherein the counter bearing element is movably arranged in accordance with a first distance in the housing element.

12. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 11 , wherein the counter bearing element comprises a second locking element, in particular a locking recess, for locking with a first locking element on a piston rod of the piston element.

13. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 1 , wherein the operating handle is connected to the retaining device via a release device.

14. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 13 , wherein the release device comprises a turning shaft coupled to the operating handle.

15. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 14 , wherein the release device comprises an operating lever connected to the turning shaft, which operating lever is connected to the holding device.

16. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 7 , wherein the first locking element comprises at least one locking leg pivotable by the release device.

17. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 16 , wherein the release device comprises a cable pull and an expanding wedge which is connected to the cable pull and is movable against a force of a spring, which expanding wedge is arranged between the locking legs of the first locking element in a locked state.

18. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 16 , wherein the locking legs are connected to another spring by means of which the locking legs are biased in a direction of an unlocked state.

19. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 1 , wherein a damping element is provided for damping movement of the lower luggage compartment element from the closed position to the open position, wherein a longitudinal axis of the damping element extends substantially parallel and at a distance from a longitudinal axis of the lifting spring.

20. The overhead luggage compartment according to claim 1 , wherein a side wall of the lower luggage compartment element is pivotally connected to a side panel of the upper luggage compartment element via a hinge joint.

21. The aircraft comprising an overhead luggage compartment according to claim 1 .